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Rachel White on how #MeToo changed her life

She made headlines when she accused director Sajid Khan of sexual harassment, and has been fighting her cause since. Actor Rachel White, who divides her time between Mumbai and Kolkata, remains one of the most prominent faces of the #MeToo movement in India. She spoke up fiercely against the alleged harassment she faced, when Khan invited her for a ‘role’ in his film. White put forth painstaking details about how he asked her to seduce him in order to bag the part, and the subsequent humiliation which prompted her to leave. In between shoot schedules, the feisty actor spoke to Femina on coping with the trying times.

What led you to become an actor?I started modelling to earn extra pocket money. I wasn’t planning to become a model or an actor, but amidst modelling assignments, a few good film offers came my way. I started learning the nitty-gritties of the profession, and realised that acting could be my calling.

Did your family support your decision?My family isn’t remotely connected to the film industry. So it was difficult for them to support me; they didn’t oppose the idea either. My parents have never interfered with my decisions. They trusted the fact that I know where to draw the line.

How did your journey in films kick-start?I was staying in Mumbai owing to modelling assignments. However, initially, despite the film offers, I stuck to modelling. I didn’t have a mentor in the industry and didn’t know how to navigate it. Gradually, modelling became boring, since I was either playing a ‘hot girl’ or a ‘modern mom’. After about eight years, I seriously considered the film industry. I acted in five films, but they never released. Finally, I got an offer to act in Har Har Byomkesh (2015), a Bengali thriller revolving around the iconic fictional sleuth, Byomkesh Bakshi. I consider that as my starting point.

You played a role in Emraan Hashmi and Kangana Ranaut-starrer Ungli (2014). How were they as co-actors?They are A-list stars, and yet so humble! They made me comfortable on set, and I never felt like a newcomer.

How difficult is it for an outsider to break into the film industry?It has its unique set of challenges. When starting out, it helps to have a mentor (friend or family). It’s an open secret that strong connections help you land roles. Since I had no mentor, I learnt from my mistakes. In the beginning, I had lucrative offers from regional films. However, I rejected them because I didn’t like the roles. Now, thankfully, with the digital world opening up, there’s plenty of scope for work even for outsiders. In fact, there’s something for everybody in the digital space.

It must have taken a lot of courage on your part to speak up against a Bollywood filmmaker like Sajid Khan. What was going on in your mind when the #MeToo movement reached its peak?Initially, I was hesitant to speak up. Then, I read Saloni’s (actor Saloni Chopra, who accused Sajid Khan of sexual harassment) account. Merely reading about her experience made me sick in the gut as I could relate to every word. I felt that Saloni needed support. After all, this was one person’s word against a powerful and influential individual; she could easily get cornered. On an impulse, I put up my experience too. The next few days were stressful. I would wake up every hour at night thinking about the possible repercussions, or whether a defamation suit would come my way. What if someone twisted my words and fabricated a false story against me? At that time, I was working on Mismatch, a Bengali web series. It was a bold show, and I was being trolled massively. I was scared of the subsequent character assassination. I was losing sleep; it was as if my head was going to burst with misapprehensions. Though many industry friends called to show their support, I wasn’t able to handle the stress. After a point, I took off to Goa with my dog, and decided to not talk about the issue for a while since I am someone who is used to coping with things on my own. For most issues, I wouldn’t even talk to my parents. But there I was, talking about one of the most traumatic episodes of my life. Needless to say, I was worried as hell.

Did it change anything on the work front?Not really. At one point, I did think that this episode would affect my career. Thankfully, nothing of that sort happened. People in the industry didn’t treat it like a scandal. Actors and models, whom I didn’t know, would come up to me and say, ‘Oh Rachel, that was so brave.’ There was also a section that was indifferent, but that didn’t matter. This period also helped me gain clarity about a number of things in my life. It was a difficult transition for me—from a person who wasn’t comfortable speaking about herself to even those close to me, to someone who was speaking up against sexual harassment.

After the incidents came to light, Sajid Khan has been suspended by Indian Film & Television Directors’ Association (IFTDA) for a year, and he also stepped down as director of Housefull 4. Your thoughts?When I spoke out against him, it was just that—a need to speak up. I didn’t think of what punishment would be meted out to him or how we would approach the authorities then. But whatever step the body has taken, I’d say it’s a beginning. We never thought that even this sort of step would be taken. For organised sectors, there’s a systemic process of complaining and dealing with harassment issues; freelancers like us have hardly had access to such processes. I’d say the action against Sajid Khan is definitely a beginning.

You were upset for not being invited to the IFTDA meeting. Do you still feel that it was a not-so-transparent process?At the time I was upset. When I now look back, I think they had to follow their established guidelines, rules, and regulations. You see, this sort of situation wasn’t only new for us, but also for them.

Have men in the industry learnt to draw the line?They are definitely in check (laughs). People seem to have understood the difference between what is cool and what is not. They are now more circumspect about the boundaries at the workspace. Even youngsters in general are realising that they need not acquiesce to harassers who are usually in positions of power.